Belcher at a glance
- Population: 240 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate), the 256th-largest of 302 places in Louisiana.
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 Census recorded 251 residents here (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: about 4.4% lower than the 2020 Census base (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Louisiana places: 256th-largest of 302 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 estimate).
- Size percentile: it is larger than about 15% of the places in Louisiana (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 32.7522, -93.8372 (Census Gazetteer, US Census Bureau).
- Nearest larger cities: Benton, LA (7 mi); Oil City, LA (8 mi); Mooringsport, LA (9 mi); Blanchard, LA (11 mi); Vivian, LA (12 mi) — straight-line distances, US Census Bureau populations.
- Smaller places nearby: Gilliam, LA (5 mi); Hosston, LA (10 mi); Ida, LA (17 mi), per US Census Bureau estimates.
What a personal loan costs in Belcher
With an installment loan the payment is fixed for the life of the loan, so the schedule is predictable from the first month to the last.
Two loans can share an interest rate and still differ in APR once fees are counted, so compare APR; our personal loan calculator shows the difference over the full term.
A lender weighs your credit profile, income and debts when setting the rate, and a longer term lowers the payment at the cost of more interest overall.
Shop with more than one lender and treat pre-qualification as an estimate, since the final terms follow a full application.
Louisiana lending rules that apply in Belcher
The table lists the Louisiana rules that apply to a loan made in Belcher, each with the regulator that published it.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Payday lending status | Legal and licensed — deferred presentment and small loans ($350 or less, 60 days or less) under OFI-issued licenses Source says: "Persons who make loans of $350 or less for a term of 60 days or less." | Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer loan license required from OFI before making consumer loans Source says: "Persons who wish to engage in the business of making consumer loans must hold a consumer loan license issued by this Office" | Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions (OFI), Non-Depository Division Source says: "OFI is responsible for the supervision of various entities which provide financial services to the citizens of the State of Louisiana." | Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions as of 2026-09-16 |
| Licensed-lender consumer loan finance charge caps | 36% first $1,400; 27% to $4,000; 24% to $7,000; 21% above (R.S. 9:3519(A)) Source says: "Thirty-six percent per year for that portion of the unpaid principal amount of the loan not exceeding one thousand four hundred dollars" | Louisiana State Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 12% per annum maximum conventional interest (La. R.S. 9:3500(C)(1)) Source says: "The amount of the conventional interest cannot exceed twelve percent per annum." | Louisiana State Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Belcher
Here is a short checklist for comparing personal loans in Belcher:
- Pull your free credit reports and dispute any error — it is the cheapest way to improve the rate you are offered.
- Run your figures through the personal loan calculator on this site so you know the payment before a lender quotes one.
- Pre-qualify with at least three lenders and compare the APR, not the interest rate.
- Check that the lender is licensed in Louisiana using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.